Extension box and key for street gas or water plugs



2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented July 30, 1889.

VIlL.

No Model.)

M. J. KALLAHER &. J. MULROONEY-f EXTENSION BOX AND KEY FOR STREET GAS ORWATER PLUGS. No. 407,955.

(No Model.)

l v E 2 Sheets-Sheet `M. J. K'ALLAHER & J. MULROONEY. EXTENSION BOX ANDKEY FOR STREET GAS 0E WATER PLUGS.

Patented July 30, 1889.

FIGJI.

FIGJH- UNITED STATES MICHAEL J. KALLAHER AND JOI-IN MULROONEY, OFMEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

EXTENSION BOX AND KEY FOR STREET GAS 0R WATER PLUGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,955, dated July 30,1889.

Application filed September 26, 1888. Serial No. 286,409. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MICHAEL J.KALLAHER and JOHN MULROONEY, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby andState of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inExtension Boxes and Keys for Street Gas or Tater Plugs, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention consists of certain features of novelty which will firstbe fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and thenspecifi cally pointed out in the claims hereto annexed.

In said drawings, Figure I is a vertical section of our improved box andkey, taken transversely through the supply-pipe. Fig. II is an enlargeddetail view of the dust-sh utters hereinafter described. Fig. IIIis aside elevation of a portion of the lower section ofA the box, showingthe dust-shutters in position. Fig. IV is a vertical section of aportion of the lower section of the box, taken longitudinally of thesupply-pipe, showing the dustshutters located inside of the box.

In carrying out the invention we employ any suitable form of extensiblebox having its upper and lower sections 1 2 telescoped together, butpreferably the form shown in the drawings, in which the twosections aresecured together and adjusted by means of a thread cast upon one and acomplementary groove cast in the other. These sections, however, unlikethe usual form, are provided with perforated diaphragms or internalflanges. In the section 1 the flange or diaphragm 3 is preferablyarranged so as to form the bottom of the upper chamber or box el, withits small aperture or perforation for the admission of the key 5,disposed centrally, while in the lower and internal section 2 thediaphragms are at any'convenicnt places, so long as the lower one 7 isnear the foot S and the upper one 7L is sufficiently far from it to aorda proper bearing for a handle 9. This handle 9 is the handle or anextension of the Wrench 10, with which it is connected by means of anattenuated journal 1l, made integral with the handle.

The lower end of the handle rests upon the flange or diaphragm 7, whilethe attenuated portion 1lv projects through the perforation in thisdiaphragm, and is secured to the wrench-shank by any suitable means,preferably by prismatic tenon and socket, as shown, the tenon beingdriven snugly into the socket, so that the wrench will not drop olfbefore it is put in place upon the key of the cock. There is a slightspace left between the wrench-shank and diaphragm, so as to allow aslight vertical movement of the wrench in order that the latter mayadjust or fully seat itself upon the prismatic key 12 of the plug 13.

The handle 9 is provided with an elongated prismatic key-socket 14,terminating at its upper end in a flaring mouth-piece 15, and the handlebeing journaled axially within the` lower section, this key-socket 14 isof course directly 4under the perforation in the diaphragm 8.

The removable key 5 is composed of a prismatic rod complementary inshape to the keysocket 14, and may be inserted through the aperture inthe diaphragm 3,when it will strike the flaring mouth-piece 15 and beguided into the key-socket.

The diaphragm 3 is provided with a small shutter 16, pivoted thereto at17, which may be turned-to cover the aperture in the diaphragm toprevent dust or dirt from entering the box when the key is removed; or,if desired, the key may be allowed to drop down into the socket, withthe handle 18 resting upon the bottom of the chamber 4c and the lid ofsaid chamber closed down, as shown in dotted lines. Thus the key willalways be at the plug ready for use and there will not be the difficultyheretofore existing of not being able to get at the key-socket orkey-post, as the case may be, by reason of the upper box or chamberhaving become filled with dirt and overgrown with grass.

The foot 8 is provided with the usual apertures or slots 19 for thepassage of the pipe 20; butthese slots are frequently much larger thanthe pipe, and thereby permit a great quantity of dirt to enter the boxand collect around the plug or cock, and thus render the latterdifficult of operation. In order to avoid this, we pro- IOO on theinside they are held in place by being inserted between the foot and theends of the housing 23 of the plug or cock, when such housing is ofsufficient length, and when it is otherwise, as shown in the drawings,blocks or washers 24 may be interposed to fill up the intervening space.These washers .consist simply of a wooden or other block with a slot forthe reception of the pipe.

We are aware that it is not new to provide devices of this nature withextensible keys; but we are not aware that the combinations hereinafterpointed out are old.

' Having thus described our device, the following is what we claim asnew therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

I. In a box for street-plugs, the combination, with the lower section 2and the plugkey 12, of a wrench adapted to engage the plug-key 12,around handle for turning said Wrench having an elongated prisinatickeysocket, a flaring mouth on said handle for guiding an elongatedprismatic key into said dle for turning said wrench journaled in the'lower section and having an elongated prismatic key-socket, theperforated diaphragm of the upper section, a removable prismatic key,and a flaring. mouth on said handle for guiding said key to said socket,as set forth.

3. In a box for street-plugs, the combination, with the upper and lowersections l 2 and the plug-key 12, of the Wrench, the upper and lowerinternal flanges or diaphragms in said lower section, the round handleprojecting through the upper diaphragm and resting upon the lowerdiaphragm, the attenuated journal projecting through the lower flangeand being secured to the wrench, said handlehaving an elongatedprismatic key-socket with a `Haring mouth, and a prismatic key forfitting in said socket, as set forth.

M. J. KALLAHER. JOHN MULROONEY.

Vitnesses:

A. GARIBALDI, J. C. CARLTON.

